RoS seeks semis berth against Air21

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines – The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters look to extend their winning run to six games and at the same time book a seat in the last four when they play the Air21 Express in the PBA Governors Cup quarter-finals Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Elasto Painters have a twice-to-beat advantage over the seventh-seeded Express, but Air21 holds a victory over Rain or Shine earlier this conference.

The Express had beaten the E-Painters, 103-96, in their first game of the Governors Cup, a contest for which Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao was not around.

“This is my chance to redeem myself in terms of being able to help my team playing against Air21,” said Guiao in the PBA.ph preview.

Guiao’s presence will obviously be a boost to the Elasto Painters, but the fiery head coach remains wary of Air21’s big men, especially import Dominique Sutton and the ageless Asi Taulava.

“They’re a big team, and we always had problems with big teams. We’re a small team and we have a small import. Asi and Sutton will be a problem,” Guiao said.

Air21 coach Franz Pumaren, for his part, is concerned about Rain or Shine import Arizona Reid.

“The way AZ Reid is shooting, we need to find ways to minimize his scoring,” he said. “We need to slow down Rain or Shine, and control their offensive weapons.”

“We must hold them to below 90 points,” Pumaren said, setting a difficult goal for his team as Rain or Shine has scored 107 points per game in its last five games.